Patent Issues in Open Innovation

Vol. 6No. 6

By
John R. Harris

John R. Harris is a partner in the Technology/IP Group in the Atlanta office of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP and is a registered patent attorney. His intellectual property law practice focuses on assisting technology-based entrepreneurial companies in all facets of IP law, especially software and computer-implemented technologies. He can be reached at jharris@mmmlaw.com.

Many companies both large and small are embracing an “open innovation” approach to research and development (R&D), as well as marketing and supply chain. Forward-thinking management recognizes that not all good ideas are developed internally, and that hierarchical, bureaucratic internal R&D departments often cannot keep up with the frenetic pace of technology development. Companies that pursue open innovation (OI) strategies share some common traits: